Historical Impact Capitalisation
The SDC has initiated a Historical Impact Capitalisation of Switzerland's bilateral engagement in Latin America and the Caribbean. The HIC project is embedded in a comprehensive institutional knowledge management initiative that accompanies the gradual phasing out of SDC's bilateral cooperation activities in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2024.
The HIC includes a Meta-Analysis - an overall analysis of SDC's bilateral cooperation in Bolivia, Peru, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Ecuador, Cuba and Haiti over the entire period of cooperation - and five Deep-Dive Reports, which are thematic studies focusing on specific sectors in countries where SDC is still active, namely Bolivia, Honduras, Nicaragua and Cuba, covering only the last 20 years.
Both the meta-analysis and the deep-dive reports have produced a wealth of lessons learned and best practices at the country and regional levels.
Meta analysis
Glimpses of SDC’s History over the last 60 Years in Latin America and the Caribbean
This broad meta-analysis provides a comprehensive overview of SDC’s bilateral engagement in eight countries in Latin America over six decades. It depicts major milestones of the cooperation, the development of thematic focus areas and approaches. It discusses the engagement in terms of effectiveness, impact on poverty reduction in the region as well as sustainability. This historical documentation nuances SDC’s achievements in the different countries, points out SDC’s effective long-term support, while applying a territorial multi-stakeholder approach; it underscores the importance of civil society support and the focus on policy dialogue. The analysis is based on a review of SDC internal documents, complemented by interviews with current and former SDC staff.
SDC’s Bilateral Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean: Achievements in a Nutshell
By 2024 SDC is phasing out its bilateral cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean after 60 years of presence. What are the main achievements, the legacy and lessons learnt? The report summarizes highlights and the essence of a comprehensive meta-analysis of SDC’s engagement in eight countries as well as of five related thematic studies (deep-dives).
Deep-dive reports
Bolivia: Responding to Partner Countries’ Development Priorities: How to do Things Right
SDC's systemic approach to rural development in Bolivia has had a positive impact on the people in the country's rural areas, where poverty and inequality are prevalent. This report argues that SDC’s engagement of more than 20 years in the sector proofs: rural development is more than agricultural production. Agroecology is a revealing approach to understand the links to the impact of climate change and underlaying social and cultural dynamics of indigenous people. This case study is without doubts valuable for future engagements in other countries.
Cuba: Local Development in Cuba - An Atypical Cooperation Engagement
The more than 20 years of SDC’s cooperation with Cuba on local development clearly reflect contributions to poverty reduction and sustainable development. This report sketches the evolution of development interventions from various isolated one-off initiatives at local level, often with an emphasis on technology, to more comprehensive programmes and platforms with a focus on individual and institutional capacity development. Governance topics related to municipal planning, local participation mechanisms, multi-stakeholder cooperation, local food production etc. were gaining prominence in SDC’s portfolio over time.
Haiti: Nexus - Linking the Gap Between Humanitarian and Development Interventions
SDC's work in Haiti over the last 20 years contributed to strengthen local governance and resilience in the country, for instance by improving the understanding of territorial governance and putting in place emergency preparedness measures for municipalities. This report shows that flexible programming modus operandi and the humanitarian-development nexus can help to enable local actors to participate in decision-making processes and improve capacities of municipalities. This enhances community resilience against natural shocks and strengthens linkages between humanitarian response, recovery and relief and Development (LRRD).
Honduras: Strengthening Economic Development – What is the Right Approach?
Contributing to sustainable economic growth, market development and the creation of decent jobs are important goals for SDC. This report discusses SDC’s approach in fostering economic development in Honduras, particularly in the light of “governance vs. income and employment” topics and “poor and marginalized vs. organized economic” actors”. It argues among others that there is a need to work more on markets, profitability and competitiveness rather than on governance aspects.
Nicaragua: Support to Water & Sanitation - From Infrastructure Towards Water Governance
The lack of access to water remains a serious problem in Nicaragua and Honduras, particularly for vulnerable people in rural areas. This report tells the story how SDC’s water & sanitation (W&S) engagement evolved over the years from sectorial hardware driven interventions to a more integrated approach that include aspects of health, education, governance and climate change. Institutionalization and territorial basin-based water management became more prominent over time.